There's no point in running your own business if no one knows about it! So here's how a website can help you take over the world!
Who knows about your business?
Whether your business is local or online, you didn't go through all that trouble of thinking up an idea, a name for your business, and developing some type of business plan along with the products and services that you are going to offer, for no one else to know about it.
Because if no one else knows about it, then you are basically not going to be making any money from that business, as you have no one to sell to!
So, say you had a lovely vintage tea shop in your local town. People who walk through the town and past your tea shop will no doubt notice you. You've probably done a bit of advertising and have some sort of social media presence. On your opening day, you will probably have quite a few people popping in, and over the coming weeks and months, you will get more passers-by into the shop and hopefully gain some regulars.
But is that enough?
You may think, yes, I'm just about covering the bills, and I love doing what I do, meeting new people all the time, chatting with customers, creating new menus, and so on. And that may be all you want.
But is it?
Do you want more?
Now imagine...
That little tea shop of yours is full every day, having a waiting list of people wanting to book in as you are becoming quite exclusive. People from miles around are hearing about your shop and all the new ideas that you are coming up with to keep enticing them to come back. It's not just tea you are serving, it's the whole experience. Eventually, you open another shop in a neighbouring town, then another, then another.
This may all sound WAY out of your league at the moment, but have you ever thought about it? Have you ever thought of a plan on how you can make that happen? Have you thought that's how a website can help you?
Now, if you have an online business, let's, for example, say you have been helping people and businesses out with their admin online, as a virtual assistant. You love what you do, and you have a social media presence, so people know about you. But it's still a bit of a hobby. You do it part-time, around your other job or looking after the kids, as it's not really bringing in enough for you to do it full-time.
Now let's imagine again...
You are getting more and more work that enables you to leave your current job and focus on your online business full-time. You need to start hiring more staff to help you with your workload, and you have become so well known that you are working for some real big players and are jetting off around the world to work with them as your list of expertise grows. Finding your voice, spreading the news about your business, that's how a website can help you.
Do you ever dream big?
You are probably thinking, well, how on earth do I get from here to there? It's never going to happen!
But it will, if you believe a website can help you. You just need to have a plan and put in the work.
Ok, what do I need to do?
I'm going to tell you exactly how a website can help you.
So, let's go back to the local business scenario. You may be able to do all you ever dreamed through word of mouth, and to be honest with you, word of mouth is one of the biggest ways to grow your business. But what if that word of mouth could spread much further than your town or local area?
Just think, if you had a new promotion or menu, only passersby can see that poster in your shop window. They may tell their friends, but they are going to want to know more before they pop in. They may live a few miles away, and passing your shop is not a route they normally take.
Think about it. They are going to want to know what the menu is, what times you are open, and whether they need to book. They are also going to want to see some images of the lovely tea and cakes you serve and how cosy and inviting your shop is, without having to actually go there before they are booked in. That's how a website can help you: you can reach a much wider audience.
Now, the virtual assistant. You also work by word of mouth and recommendations, but as above, people want to know more about your business before deciding to work with you. A website can help you with this.
Just think, what is the first thing you do before going somewhere or buying something, even if someone recommends it to you? You type their name into a search engine online and see what you can find out about that person or business.
People want to know who they are buying from, whether it's a product or a service. You can bet that if your product or service is exactly what they are looking for, or beyond what they are looking for, they will be prepared to pay more. Ensuring you have a professional website will help you get noticed, and having an effective website will get you seen by a much wider audience. Let's face it, if you are a VA, you can work for anyone, anywhere! That's how a website can help you.
Think about this logically
My daughter keeps going through loads of charging cables for her phone. Why? Because I just keep picking up cheap ones from eBay. But then, looking back at the money I was spending, I thought to myself, why don't I just pay the extra and buy from Apple - a brand I recognise and trust.
A brand...
That's what you are when you are in business. And that's when a website can help you. It can promote your brand.
But I have a Facebook page...
You can tell I get this A LOT!
Think again about your customer buying process. Are you happy buying from someone who just has a Facebook page with a load of posts about their special offers?
I may be picky, but if I fancy going out for a meal and I Google some local restaurants, I'm looking specifically for location, opening times, and a menu, and maybe some images of their food. I much prefer looking at a restaurant's website rather than its Facebook page.
Why? Because, with a few clicks, I can get the information I need without having to scroll through their Facebook page feed. I may visit their Facebook page directly from the link on their website to find out a bit more, usually, previous visitors' photos of the food. But, only once I know what I need to know and think it's worth investigating a little bit more, as I've liked what I've seen on their website.
If they just had a Facebook page, I would immediately think that they were a new or not-so-established business that hadn't gotten around to building a website yet. I may still look at their page and decide to try them, and they may be amazing. But I would probably follow them for a while, see what people post, and maybe eventually get around to trying their meals.
So, YES, having a Facebook page builds up trust and a relationship with your customer or potential customers. But I bet it's not the first place they would look if they wanted to find out more about your business or what you are selling; that's how a website can help you.
It's all about your brand
It's all about building that brand. It may only be you running your business at the moment, but I'm assuming you want to build on that and grow and have the business that you dreamed of right at the beginning, before all the hard work and complications wear you down. If you are just starting out, you may be desperate to leave your current job so you can focus on the business you love full-time.
People buy from those they trust, and if they don't know you personally, then it's all about the brand.
Just think of some big-name companies and why you trust them and buy from them.
Build your brand - a website can help you!
So, how are you going to build this brand? How are you going to show people you really mean business? How will you build relationships and get selling?
You're not just going to have a Facebook page, a few adverts, and a one-page website (if any), are you? -Is that really the impression you want to make?
Remember, we are dreaming big here!
You need a professional website that instills trust in you and your brand. That's how a website can help you take over the world. Professionalism and brand identity.
So what's stopping you?
I bet it's time and money!
It's always time and money. That's what most things come down to, along with fear, fear of not being able to do something, not knowing where to start, or of failing.
That's where we come in!
Wonderful World of Websites is run by expert women just like you, for women just like you. We've been where you are now, and we can help you, even with a small budget. Why? Because we know how a website can help you, and we want you to succeed.
You see, it's not just about a website, it's about so much more.
It's about achieving those big dreams.
It's about building your business and brand.
It's about showing people what you can really do.
It's about pushing out of that comfy little box and taking over the world...
So let's get started!
Still need convincing that a website can help you? Check out our Google Reviews here.
